West Hollywood is marking Transgender Awareness Month and Trans Day of Remembrance (TDoR) with a series of programs and displays intended to honor our trans brothers and sisters and to acknowledge the unacceptable violence and discrimination many still face. In 2025, there have been 41 reported deaths of transgender people due to violence in the United States. A list of their names can be found below.
The City began its observance by raising the trans flag over City Hall and by shifting the lanterns along Santa Monica Boulevard to blue, pink, and white. The colors will remain in place through November 20. The lights are meant to serve as a visible reminder of WeHo’s commitment to recognizing our trans community.
One of the more celebratory events is the GARRAS Fashion Show on November 15 at the PDC. The program is produced by the TransLatin@ Coalition and co-sponsored by the City. The production brings together trans and gender-nonconforming models and performers in an entertaining way that blends advocacy, visibility, and fashion. Tickets are available here.
Without a doubt, on of the more moving and solemn events will take place on Friday, November 21, when the City hosts its annual Transgender Day of Remembrance ceremony at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers. The program will be led by Jazzmun Crayton, and will include remarks from Dr. Johanna Olson-Kennedy, the former Medical Director of the Center for Trans Youth Health and Development at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. The Trans Chorus of Los Angeles and LZ Love are also scheduled to perform before the reading of names honoring those who lost their lives to anti-transgender violence during the past year.
For those unable to attend in person, the ceremony will be broadcast on WeHoTV and streamed on the City’s YouTube channel, where it will remain available for replay. WeHoTV is also accessible through other platforms, including Apple TV, Fire TV, Android TV, and Roku.
West Hollywood was one of the first cities in the nation to establish a Transgender Advisory Board, and with a large share of residents identifying somewhere along the LGBTQ+ spectrum, the programs reflect long-standing commitments year-round, not just performative gestures. The City also keeps a Trans Resource Guide that links to legal, health, and support services available across the region. More information about events and resources can be found here.
Even if you can’t make it to any of the events, please take a moment to acknowledge and honor our trans brothers and sisters, and hold space for the lives we’ve lost and the people still fighting to be seen.
Say Their Name
Parker Savarese
Elisa Rae Shupe
Aubrey Dameron
Tahiry Broom
Sam Nordquist
Ervianna Johnson
Amyri Dior
Linda Becerra Moran
Jordan “JJ” Maye
Katelyn Rinnetta Benoit
Kaitoria Le’Cynthia Bankz (“Kai”)
Norah Horwitz
Kelsey Elem
Shy’Parius Dupree
Karmin Wells
Charlotte Fosgate
Jonathan Joss
Tessa June
Jax Gratton
Hope Lyca Youngblood
Laura Schueler
Emma Slabach
JJ Godbey
Christina Hayes
Lily-Dawn Harkins
Gabrielle Nguyen (“Cam”)
Kia-Leigh Tabitha Roberts
Kamora Woods
Nathaniel Pabón Cruz (“Nata”)
Arty Cassidy Beowulf Gibson
Dream Johnson
Rosa Machuca
Blair A. Sawyer
Aurora Pellegrina (“Alexa”, “Luna”)
Onyx Cornish
Kasí Rhea (“Kaeyy Holmes”)
Robyn James Post
Blake Sturm
Blaze Aleczander Balle-Mason
The events and visibility WeHo is creating are meaningful and needed. Honoring the lives lost while celebrating the strength of the trans community is powerful.